My flight to Belgium was with WizzAir, a low-cost carrier. The company had paid for me to check in a bag, but I only had a small bag and my suit. I saw a young backpacker couple ahead of me, so I walked up the line and told them that I could help them; I had a luggage check-in paid for that they could use to save money. They acted really suspicious and worried, and basically rejected me.
I watched them as they got to the check in counter. They both got surprised, and I knew it was because of some huge charge WizzAir was going to give them for checking in a bag. So, they turned around to me, and I said “Yeah, they charge you.” I guess they didn’t know. So the guy came back to me and asked if I could check in his bag for him. I checked it in, and then they finally thanked me. “Thanks. You saved us €20.” It took a while.
So then I went through security, but I had to finish my yogurt drink first. No liquids. I see the guy ahead of me forfeit his expensive moisterizers. Then I get stopped for my toothpaste. My tube is 125 mL, but they only allow 100 mL. Sorry, I must forfeit it. I didn’t want to give up on this toothpaste so I returned to the check-in line.
I approached a few people and told them my situation. I asked if they could put the toothpaste in the bag they were checking in, and then I’d pick it up from them later. Some people entertained the idea, but then said “No, it’s okay.” Hahah. Yeah, okay. Other people were very suspicious. One guy looked at the tube and told me, “No, I don’t trust it.” Man, I was pissed. I had just helped these people out, and they were suspicious of me, and now I’m asking a small favor, and now more people are suspicious of me. I think airports do that to people. Lots of suspicion.
So I still had the toothpaste and I had worked up an anger. I went through the entry to security and the lady started to point out that the toothpaste looked to big. I flipped out on her, telling her “I know, and it pisses me off!!” She gave me a ziploc bag.
I approached the security line and I was so ready. I was ready to put up a fight for this toothpaste. I rolled up the end of it as it was a half-used tube, and the contents were well under 100 mL. I was going to explain this to them, but I expected they wouldn’t care; the package says 125 mL. Idiots. My plan after that was to squeeze out the contents into the ziploc bag to take with me, and leave them with the empty 125 mL tube to make them happy. One way or the other, my toothpaste was coming with me.
And as my bag came out on the conveyor, no one stopped me. They didn’t notice the 25 mL breach in security! I grabbed my stuff and ran.
The other thing I hate about these low-cost carriers, besides the huge luggage check-in fee, is the unassigned seating. 20 minutes before boarding even starts, people start lining up so they can get a seat. And when the gate opens up, everyone gets in a panic. People push forward and try to squeeze through any gaps. And in Europe there’s no lines. It’s a herd with people coming from the sides, and putting spin moves on you to get ahead.
All this gets you into the same mentality. I lined up when I saw the herd forming. I feared for my seat. And I boxed out grandmas who were trying to sneak ahead. Assholes.
